Machine for making file folders

ABSTRACT

A machine for making file folders having a double reinforced tab, the machine includes a conveyor for conveying file folder blanks along a longitudinal path in a step-by-step manner, a cutting and scoring die for cutting and scoring the blanks, a glue applying apparatus including a blade located at an acute angle to the direction of travel of the blanks, a folding roller for pressing the leading edge of the blank against the glue applying blade and a pneumatic glue metering system for simultaneously metering glue to the blade as the leading edge is pressed against the blade, a set of rollers for pressing the folded leading edge against the file folder blank, a cutting die for cutting the double folded leading edge to form the tab and a folding mechanism for folding the file folder.

United States Patent [191 Borski [451 Feb. 11,1975

[ MACHINE FOR MAKING FILE FOLDERS [75] Inventor: William J. Borski, Brookfield, Wis.

[73] Assignee: Faustel lnc., Butler, Wis.

[22] Filed: Jan. 2, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 430,235

[52] US. Cl 93/1 E, 93/13, 93/36 MM, 118/32, 118/411 [51] Int. Cl B3lb l/62, B3lb 41/60 [58] Field of Search.... 93/1 E, 1 F, 13, 27, 36 MM, 93/56 PD, 61 R, 62; 156/4421, 443, 479; 270/93; 118/32, 410, 411, 412

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,052,623 9/1936 l-larby 93/1 E 2,138,788 ll/1938 Hart et al. 93/1 E 2,630,046 3/1953 Raynolds 93/1 E 3,135,628 6/1964 Johnson, Jr. et al 93/36 MM X 3,270,629 9/1966 Welch 93/61 R 3,427,932 2/1969 Wagner 93/36 MM 3,482,489 l2/l969 Neal et al 93/36 MM X Primary ExaminerGerald A. Dost Assistant Examiner-James F. Coan Attorney, Agent, or Firm-James E. Nilles [57] ABSTRACT A machine for making file folders having a double reinforced tab, the machine includes a conveyor for conveying file folder blanks along a longitudinal path in a step-by-step manner, a cutting and scoring die for cutting and scoring the blanks, a glue applying apparatus including a blade located at an acute angle to the direction of travel of the blanks, a folding roller for pressing the leading edge of the blank against the glue applying blade and a pneumatic glue metering system for simultaneously metering glue to the blade as the leading edge is pressed against the blade, a set of rollers for pressing the folded leading edge against the file folder blank, a cutting die for cutting the double folded leading edge to form the tab and a folding mechanism for folding the tile folder.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEBI 1 ms SHEET 10F 2 MACHINE FOR MAKING FILE FOLDERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION File folders conventionally are formed by conveying the folders in succession along a longitudinal path through a cutting and scoring die, a gluing apparatus and a tab cutting die. In order to produce the double tab on the leading edge of the die, various devices have been devised for applying the glue and folding the leading edge to form the tab. These devices have for the most part, been objectionable because of the inability to control the amount of glue and the resultant fouling of the equipment due to the excessive and uneven dis- I tribution of glue.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view in elevation showing the general arrangement of the machine for forming a double top tab file folder;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the machine showing the location of the glue applying apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the glue applying apparatus and the tab folding roller on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 4 is a side view in section of the glue applying blade showing the neutral position of the tab folding roller on a further enlarged scale;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the tab folding roller in the operative position; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the file folders shown at the cutting and forming, gluing and tab forming positions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the file folding machine 10 which is used to form the double top tab file folders 12 includes a cutting and scoring die 14, a glue applying apparatus 16, a tab cutting die 18 and a file folding mechanism 19. A web of paper board 11 is conveyed in a step-by-step manner through the machine in a longitudinal path which includes in succession the die 14, the gluing apparatus 16, a file folding mechanism 19 and the tab cutting die 18 by means of roller drive assemblies 20. The web 11 is advanced in a step-by-step manner and in each step of advance, the cutting and scoring die 14, glue applying apparatus 16, and tab cutting die 18 are simultaneously actuated to perform their respective cutting, scoring and gluing functions. The file folders 12 are folded by means of the folding mechanism 19 and deposited on a discharge belt conveyor 24 at the end of the machine 10.

The cutting and scoring die 14, tab cutting die 18, folding mechanism 19 and conveying system and 24 all operate in a well known manner. In this regard, the cutting and scoring die 14 (FIG. 6) is closed each time the web stops to cut the outer periphery of the file folder blank and to impress score lines 13 and 15 into the blank and to cut the lead edge 17 and notches trailing edge 22. The tab cutting die 18 is used to cut the lead edge 17 of the blank to form the tab 21. The folding mechanism 19 is used to fold the file blank on score line 13 and to feed the file folder 12 to conveyor 24.

GLUE APPLYING APPARATUS In accordance with the invention, the leading edge 17 of the file folder blanks are folded and glued by means 4 of the glue applying apparatus 16. In this regard and referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the apparatus 16 includes a blade 30 supported by brackets 35 on the machine 10 at an acute angle with respect to the direction of travel of the file folder blanks 12. A folding bar 32 having a flat surface 33 and a drive extension 34 is mounted on the machine 10 to enable pivotal motion of bar 32 so that the surface 33 on the bar 32 rotates or pivots about the lower edge 31 of the blade 30. The bar 32 is rotated by means of a pinion gear 36 provided on the end of the extension 34 and a rack 38 connected to an eccentric cam 40. The cam 40 is mounted on a shaft 42 which is journalled for rotation in machine 10 and driven in timed sequence with the roller drive assemblies 20. Each time the drive assemblies 20 stop, the rack 38 is moved through a complete cycle rotating the surface 33 on the roller 32 against the front surface of blade 30 and returning the bar 32 to its original position.

Glue is applied to the inside surface of the leading edge 17 of the file folder blank by means of a glue applying apparatus 42 operatively connected to the blade 30. In this regard, the blade 30 is provided in the front surface with a recess 44 and a number of inlet passages 46. A perforate plate 48 covers the recess 44 and is provided with a plurality of small openings 49. Means can be provided for preventing glue from adhering to the plate in the form of a Teflon or chrome coat on the surface of the plate.

Glue is forced into the recess 44 in the blade 30 from a pressurized tank 51 which is connected by hoses and pipes or tubes 53 to the passage 46. The flow of glue to the blade 30 is controlled by means of pneumatic control valves 52 and metering valves 54 provided in pipes 53. In this regard, the control valves 52 are connected to a solenoid valve 56 by hoses 58 and to a source of high pressure air through a hose 60. The solenoid valve 56 is actuated once in each cycle of operation by means of a micro switch 62 which is actuated by a cam 64 on the tab cutting die 18. The valve 52 is opened momentarily to allow a pulse of glue under pressure to flow into pipe 53.

The amount of glue allowed to flow into the recess 44 is controlled by means of the metering valve 54. The metering valve 54 is manually set to allow sufficient glue to flow into the recess 44 with sufficient pressure to provide a droplet of glue at each of the openings 49.

In operation, the cut and scored blanks are moved from the die 14 far enough to align score line 15 with the edge 31 of blade 30. When the blank stops, the micro switch 62 is closed to momentarily open valve 52 to force glue into recess 44 and out through holes 49. The leading edge 17 of the blank is simultaneously folded back against the face of plate 48 by rotating bar 32 about the edge 31 of blade 30 with sufficient force to crease score line 15 and to press the leading edge against plate 48.

At the end of the glue applying step, the now folded leading edge 17 of the blank 12 is pressed against the blanks by means of a number of drive rollers 76 provided downstream from the blade 30.

The folded blank is then fed to the tabbing die 18 and stopped with the folded leading edge aligned in the die 18. The die 18 is closed to cut the tab 21. As the tabbing die 18 closes, the folding mechanism 19 is moved into engagement with the score line 13 to fold the folder blank.

I claim:

1. A machine for forming file folders having reinforced tabs, said machine comprising:

means for conveying blanks in succession along a longitudinal path, a die positioned to cut and score said blanks, folding means in the path of travel of each of said blanks for folding the lead edge against the blank to form a double ply, said folding means including means for applying glue to the folded edge of said blank as said edge of said blank is being folded,

means for pressing said folded edge of said blank against the blank to form a double ply on the-lead edge of said blank,

and means for cutting the double ply to form a tab.

2. The machine according to claim 1 wherein said glue applying means includes a blade having an edge mounted transversely to and at an acute angle to the path of travel of said blanks, said blade including a front surface having a recess, a perforate plate secured to said front surface of said blade over said recess, and means for admitting glue under pressure into said recess whereby said glue will flow through said perforate plate.

3. The machine according to claim 2 including means for metering the amount of glue fed to said recess.

4. The machine according to claim 1 wherein said folding means includes a folding roller having a flat surface positioned to pivot about the edge of said blade whereby a blank disposed between said blade and roller will be folded about the edge of said blade.

5. An apparatus for folding and gluing the leading edge of a file folder blank against the blade to form a double ply, said apparatus comprising:

a blade having a front surface and an edge disposed transversely to the direction of travel of the file folder blanks,

means positioned to rotate about the edge of said blade to fold the leading edge of the file folder blank back against the front surface of the blade,

and means for metering glue onto the front surface of the blade.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said blade includes an elongate recess in the front surface of the blade parallel to the blade edge and a perforate plate secured to said blade and overlying said recess.

of glue admitted to said recess. 

1. A machine for forming file folders having reinforced tabs, said machine comprising: means for conveying blanks in succession along a longitudinal path, a die positioned to cut and score said blanks, folding means in the path of travel of each of said blanks for folding the lead edge against the blank to form a double ply, said folding means including means for applying glue to the folded edge of said blank as said edge of said blank is being folded, means for pressing said folded edge of said blank against the blank to form a double ply on the lead edge of said blank, and means for cutting the double ply to form a tab.
 2. The machine according to claim 1 wherein said glue applying means includes a blade having an edge mounted transversely to and at an acute angle to the path of travel of said blanks, said blade including a front surface having a recess, a perforate plate secured to said front surface of said blade over said recess, and means for admitting glue under pressure into said recess whereby said glue will flow through said perforate plate.
 3. The machine according to claim 2 including means for metering the amount of glue fed to said recess.
 4. The machine according to claim 1 wherein said folding means includes a folding roller having a flat surface positioned to pivot about the edge of said blade whereby a blank disposed between said blade and roller will be folded about the edge of said blade.
 5. An apparatus for folding and gluing the leading edge of a file folder blank against the blade to form a double ply, said apparatus comprising: a blade having a front surface and an edge disposed transversely to the direction of travel of the file folder blanks, means positioned to rotate about the edge of said blade to fold the leading edge of the file folder blank back against the front surface of the blade, and means for metering glue onto the front surface of the blade.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said blade includes an elongate recess in the front surface of the blade parallel to the blade edge and a perforate plate secured to said blade and overlying said recess.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said metering means includes a container of glue under pressure and a tube connecting said container to said recess in said blade.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 7 including a pneumatic valve in said tube for controlling the pressure of the glue in said recess.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 8 including a metering valve in said tube for controlling the amount of glue admitted to said recess. 